Economic Development and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Panel – 20 July 2009

PRESENT:  Councillor Smith in the chair.

Councillors Ali, Bainbridge, Barkworth, Berry, C Sherwood and N Sherwood.

The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

104  DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – The following member declared a personal interest in the following matter: –

Member Minute Subject & Nature of Interest
Councillor M Ali Planning and Evaluation session Licence Holder

No whip was declared.

105  MINUTESResolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the panel held on 26 May 2009 having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the chair.

106  PUBLIC SPEAKING – There were no requests received.

107   (3)  LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP (LSP) PERFORMANCE REPORT – Quarter 4 (2008/9) – TheService Director Legal and Democratic had circulated the final report for 2008/9 for information purposes only.  Members noted the information contained within and suggested that the acronyms used throughout the report be further clarified in future documents.

Members questioned why an officer was not in attendance to respond to any questions.  The Service Director confirmed that the document had been sent for information purposes only and that an officer from the Strategy Development Unit would attend future meetings when the LSP reports were presented to the panel.

Resolved – (a) That the position be noted, and (b) that the issues raised about the use of acronyms and also the future attendance of an officer from the Strategy Development Unit be addressed with those concerned.

108  (4)  LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP – Theme Quarterly Performance Report for Economic Development – Quarter 4 – Resolved – That the position be noted.

109  (5)LEADER OF THE COUNCILS FORWARD PLAN – JULY TO OCTOBER 2009 – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council’s Forward Plan for July to October 2009.

The plan contained details of all matters and issues likely to be the subject of key decisions for a period of the next four months, updated on a monthly basis.

Members raised concerns over the length of time that it was taking to introduce the decriminalisation of on-street parking enforcement, and how at present, neither the Police or the Local Authority were taking responsibility.

The Service Director Legal and Democratic confirmed that the Safer and Stronger Communities had also raised such concerns and that the Service Director Highways and Planning had been asked to attend a future meeting to provide an update.  Members asked that an invitation be extended to all members of the Economic Development and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Panel to attend the aforementioned meeting.

Resolved – (a) That the Leader of the Council’s Forward Plan for July to October 2009 be noted, and (b) that the Chair of the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel be advised of the panels request to attend the meeting with the Service Director Highways and Planning.